Shaffer
05-20-05, 11:27 AM
Soon after spending six years in the U.S. Army, Duc Luu said he needed a bigger challenge. So after six months as a civilian, he joined the Marines.
The Company D private first class said he found his challenge after joining Platoon 1067. And he was ready to take it on.
"I needed to be held to a higher standard than what the Army held me to," said the 25-year-old.
An infant Luu and his family migrated from Hong Kong to the United States in 1981. After growing up in Northern and Southern California, 16-year-old Luu enlisted in the Army's delayed entry program in 1998 with his mother Thuong Luu's consent.
"She knew that I was going to join one way or another," said Luu. "My family never settled down, and this only fueled me to keep moving and see more."
While in the U.S. Army, Luu served abroad in many countries as an aviation mechanic. He first went to Korea for two years, and later he served in Bosnia for a year while stationed at Fort Polk, La. He finished his last enlistment year in Iraq.
The adjustment from the Army to the Marines was something Luu welcomed, but his military experience made him a harder person on his platoon mates.
"Some of the other recruits had problems adjusting to the military lifestyle," said Luu. "I had to take a step back and put myself in their shoes as a prior civilian."
Even with his military experience, Luu faced new challenges.
"It was a culture shock for him," said Sgt. Marcos E. Ortega, drill instructor, Platoon 1067.
Once Luu understood the differences between the services, his drill instructors appointed him first squad leader.
"He was understanding the different leadership styles within the Marine Corps, how the lower ranking Marines have to assume leadership for themselves and hold higher expectations," said Ortega. "Once he came into his own, he became more vocal, which is important in the Marine Corps."
Assuming leadership in the drill instructors' absence was something Luu practiced regularly.
"He does what we expect, even when no one is looking," said Platoon 1067's senior drill instructor Staff Sgt. Cole V. Walter. "He's very locked on and has no problem doing what we tell him to do, he has a mature nature about him."
Luu said he sought extensive training coming into the Corps. And the Corps provided it.
"We only spent three days on the rifle range in the Army. We spent two weeks firing here," said Luu. "The hikes we went on here are not as flat as some that we did in the Army. There are a lot more hills here."
He said there were mental differences as well.
"In the Army, we had an hour and a half to two hours of time to ourselves. We get about an hour here," said Luu.
Luu managed to find the challenges he was looking for in the Marine Corps, and he said he enjoys the new lifestyle. Once Luu found what the Corps was like, he said he felt at home.
The Company D private first class said he found his challenge after joining Platoon 1067. And he was ready to take it on.
"I needed to be held to a higher standard than what the Army held me to," said the 25-year-old.
An infant Luu and his family migrated from Hong Kong to the United States in 1981. After growing up in Northern and Southern California, 16-year-old Luu enlisted in the Army's delayed entry program in 1998 with his mother Thuong Luu's consent.
"She knew that I was going to join one way or another," said Luu. "My family never settled down, and this only fueled me to keep moving and see more."
While in the U.S. Army, Luu served abroad in many countries as an aviation mechanic. He first went to Korea for two years, and later he served in Bosnia for a year while stationed at Fort Polk, La. He finished his last enlistment year in Iraq.
The adjustment from the Army to the Marines was something Luu welcomed, but his military experience made him a harder person on his platoon mates.
"Some of the other recruits had problems adjusting to the military lifestyle," said Luu. "I had to take a step back and put myself in their shoes as a prior civilian."
Even with his military experience, Luu faced new challenges.
"It was a culture shock for him," said Sgt. Marcos E. Ortega, drill instructor, Platoon 1067.
Once Luu understood the differences between the services, his drill instructors appointed him first squad leader.
"He was understanding the different leadership styles within the Marine Corps, how the lower ranking Marines have to assume leadership for themselves and hold higher expectations," said Ortega. "Once he came into his own, he became more vocal, which is important in the Marine Corps."
Assuming leadership in the drill instructors' absence was something Luu practiced regularly.
"He does what we expect, even when no one is looking," said Platoon 1067's senior drill instructor Staff Sgt. Cole V. Walter. "He's very locked on and has no problem doing what we tell him to do, he has a mature nature about him."
Luu said he sought extensive training coming into the Corps. And the Corps provided it.
"We only spent three days on the rifle range in the Army. We spent two weeks firing here," said Luu. "The hikes we went on here are not as flat as some that we did in the Army. There are a lot more hills here."
He said there were mental differences as well.
"In the Army, we had an hour and a half to two hours of time to ourselves. We get about an hour here," said Luu.
Luu managed to find the challenges he was looking for in the Marine Corps, and he said he enjoys the new lifestyle. Once Luu found what the Corps was like, he said he felt at home.